Frozen fresh water tank

[kevinhits]

Hey all,

New to the forum and need some help....

We had a quick blast of winter in Calgary and always head out Thanksgiving weekend for our annual trip. I think I got out to my trailer in time, got heat going and hot water tank started and looks fine. However, my fresh water holding tank is still frozen in order to get water through my lines...

We only use this water for dishes and the toilet...Never drink or use it for coffee....

I think the tank may be half full?

Any suggestions?

I was thinking of putting a jug of hot water or some antifreeze and see what happens. I pulled the plug already to drain everything out.

Thanks for any help you can give me

 

[kevinhits]

PS...I have a space heater where my lines come in, hot water tank lines and pump/lines

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I can tell you that just adding anti-freeze isn't going to help.  It won't melt ice that's already formed.  Heat is usually the only answer to frozen tanks and lines.

 

[kevinhits]

Thanks...Would pouring hot water in do the trick?

 

[Rene T]

Thanks...Would pouring hot water in do the trick?

It would probably take quite a few gallons of hot water. I would try to find a place that has a heated bay and leave it in there for 24 hours or more if you can. 
You can also drop some of the belly down and get a torpedo kerosene heater and direct the hot air up into the cavity.

 

[SpencerPJ]

If you're really desperate, get some cardboard or plastic and tape off underneath, then stick an electric heater under there.  OBVIOUSLY, make sure you can't get hot and catch fire, but if you warm the tank up to say 40, it will thaw. and actually putting tap water in would help thaw it, as long as the tap water was warmer than ambient temp.  Be careful trying to dump hot water in it, you could crack stuff if temperatures change too quickly.

 

[kevinhits]

Thanks guys....20L of boiling water got the fresh water tank empty...However, I was pissed that they run the water lines under the carriage...and I believe that is my last obstical LOL...

 

[Utclmjmpr]

And you didn't know that before now??>>>>Dan ( And you live where???)

 

[grashley]

FWIW  20L of boiling water will melt only 25L of ice, leaving both at 32 deg F or 0 deg C.  That can get the process started if more thawing is needed.

A couple gallons of boiling water will not do much.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Most likely you have a water line plugged with ice, perhaps tank-to-pump or even inside the pump itself.